The letters are in fair condition, lightly aged; the card is discoloured and stained. Loosely inserted in a copy of Williams's 'Thomas Cranmer of Canterbury', 75 + [1]pp, 8vo, with the ownership signature 'Christopher Fry' on the front free endpaper, in worn binding with fraying at head of spine. Delightful and revealing letters, mixing personal and business (Williams worked for the Oxford University Press and Fry was published by them). ONE: ALS from Southfield House, 17 December 1941. 2pp, 12mo. Thirty lines of closely-written text, on a leaf of ruled paper torn from a notebook.

115pp, 12mo. In good condition: sound and tight, on browning War Economy paper, in green cloth with slight bloom, and in slightly worn and chipped browning dustwrapper. (The subtitle 'A Play in Three Acts' features on the dustwrapper, but not on the title-page.) Fry's ownership inscription 'Christopher Fry' is in blue ink at the top right-hand corner of the recto of the front free endpaper. A verse drama from the library of the leading twentieth-century English exponent of the genre, after T. S. Eliot.

55pp, 8vo. In fair condition, internally tight and sound, on browning paper, in lightly-worn blue cloth binding. No dustwrapper. Slight dink at head of spine. Ownership inscription 'Christopher Fry' in blue ink at top right-hand corner of recto of front free endpaper. Fry and Williams were on cordial terms, the latter working for Oxford University Press and the former being published by them.

A satisfying association: a copy of the typescript of a play set in 'Mid-Rhondda', for a production by an amateur dramatic company from Mid-Rhondda. [1] + 80pp, 4to. Duplicated typescript. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Each page is on the recto of a separate leaf. Stapled into a dark-blue card binding, with cloth spine, the front cover of which carries: '”RHONDDA ROUNDABOUT” | A Play in 3 Acts by | JACK JONES | GARRICK DRAMATIC SOCIETY | Mid – Rhondda'. Preceding the text of the play is a page carrying a list of characters and their ages, and a 'Scene-Sequence'.

Wilfrid Ball [Wilfrid Williams Ball] (1853-1917), landscape and marine painter and etcher, President of the Society of British Artists

Publication details:

On letterhead of 4 Albemarle Street, W. [London] 3 April 1894.

£120.00

2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He thanks her for remembering him and sending 'that splendid photograph of yourself – I really think it is the best I have seen'. He continues: 'I have been “slogging” away at water-colours for a shew in Manchester and so have kept pretty busy.' He is sending 'a Nile water colour to the New Gallery', and has sent 'an oil to the Academy – they are sure to kick it out so I shan't mind'. He hopes that she and her sister 'are all right' and 'enjoying this lovely weather'.

[8] + 200pp, 8vo. In light-brown wraps with title repeated on front cover. Worn, on aged paper, with the upper back few leaves dogeared, and spotting at foot of first few leaves. The present proof must in some regard differ from the published version, whose various listings on COPAC give it 200pp, rather than the 199pp here. Lewis's two-page 'Introductory' concludes with a vivid picture of the Inklings: 'The first two chapters had been read aloud by the author to Professor Tolkien and myself.

42 Ashley Gardens, Victoria Street, S.W. [London], on card with embossed letterhead of the House of Commons. 27 February [1900].

£40.00

In good condition, lightly aged. Written with purple ink. Addressed to 'J. W. Arrowsmith Esq | Publisher | Bristol.' The message begins, without salutation: 'Booking Office blocked with Copy. But I have had the "Modder River" taken out of turn. You will find a notice in tomorrow's "Punch"'. He announces that on the fifteenth of the following month he is 'to be a guest of the New Vagabond Club', and notes that Arrowsmith is a member, adding 'we may possibly meet'.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. The brothers ask Gregory to 'please accept this special copy of RIDERS ACROSS THE BORDER, with our warmest regards, and with every good wish for Christmas and the New Year.' Gregory had published his book with the firm earlier in the year.

Renown Akido Society, Hillingdon, the first society teaching Akido in the United Kingdom, founded by Ken Williams, pupil of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei

Publication details:

Renown Akido Society [ Hillingdon ]. Between 1966 and 1969.

£50.00

An interesting artefact from the early days of Akido in the United Kingdom. Akido was introduced into the UK 1955 by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei at the Hut Dojo in Hillingdon. His first student was Ken Williams. In 1957 Haydn Foster joined the Hut and continued to teach there until his death in 2011. The Renown Society was formed in 1966 by Williams after Abbe returned to Japan. This was the original society teaching Akido in the UK. The Renown Society broke up in 1969. 4pp., foolscap 8vo.

48pp., 12mo. Disbound pamphlet without wraps. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight staining to outer leaves. A guide to health for the common people, with remedies. Written in Welsh, with a scattering of words in English. Williams is described on the title-page as 'Awdwr Y “Salmydd Cenhedlaethol,” “Ceinion Cerddoriarth Gorawl Ac Eglwysig,” “Hymnau Nadolig,” &c., &c. Two-page 'Rhagymadrodd' by 'Hafrenydd.

The first translation into Welsh of Bacon's 'Essays'. 160pp., 12mo. Disbound pamphlet without wraps. Title-leaf loose, otherwise in fair condition, on lightly aged paper. The volume contains the fifty-eight essays, the fragment of an essay 'Of Fame' and 'The Praise of Knowledge', together with the biography and notes by Richard Williams of Welshpool. No copy in the National Library of Wales, and the only copy on COPAC at the British Library, whose entry tentatively dates the work to the year 1870. Now extremely scarce.

Julia Kavanagh (1824-1877), Irish Victorian novelist, a devout Catholic most of whose work was set in France [ Henry Blackett (1825-1871), English publisher, partner in London firm Hurst & Blackett ]

Publication details:

Without place or date.

£130.00

On both sides of a piece of thin laid paper, roughly 10 x 12.5 cm, torn from a letter. Aged and worn, with chipping to extremities. The recto reads: '[…] work is to be published? I sh also be much obliged to you i you will give me any informat about America. Is anything done with that distracted countr in the way of early copies? I dare say it is time to sen Baron Tauchnitz the proofs through Williams & Norgate. I trust you will kindly see to that for m We shall be g to the coun […]'.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, with the slightest smudging at the foot of the first page. Mansel is not named, but the letter comes from his papers, and contains references to the family estate at Maesycrugiau, and Mansel's ancestor Maurice de Londres. The first paragraph reads: 'My dear “Proud Welshman,” | For so I like to think of you, & not as a descendant of Maurice de Londres!

Williams Deacon's Bank Ltd, which was founded in Manchester in 1836 and subsequently headquartered in London, had a large network of branches in the north-west of England. It was acquired by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1930. In 1970 it was merged with Glyn, Mills & Co and The National Bank to form Williams & Glyn's Bank. Carpenter was a director of the bank for 21 years, serving as chairman for 12 years.

Sir Dawson Williams (1854-1928), editor of the British Medical Journal

Publication details:

On letterhead of the British Medical Journal, 429 Strand, London, W.C. 25 January 1901.

£30.00

For information on Williams see his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p., landscape 12mo. The top half of a 4to leaf, the lower part having been torn away untidily, and with a closed tear repaired on reverse with archival tape. He thanks him for the trouble he has taken 'to obtain an answer to my inquiry. As it was not certain whether Dr Fred Wilson was suffering from plague or not, we thought it better to leave the matter indefinite.'

The Barn Theatre at Smallhythe Place, set up in Terry's home in her memory by her daughter Edy Craig in 1929, is now a National Trust property. 3pp., 4to. Bifolium. Aged and worn, on brittle paper, with slight loss to one corner. Heading the front page is an illustration of a banner and bouquet, with the words 'Barn Theatre | E T'. Beneath this is printed: 'TENTH ELLEN TERRY ANNIVERSARY | PERFORMANCE | Sunday, July 24th, 1938 | at | 5 p.m. | In Memory of | Dame ELLEN TERRY, G.B.E., LL.D. | Born at Coventry February 27, 1847 | Died at Smallhythe July 21, 1928'.

Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Lancashire, and other organisations. Almost all 1944 and 1956.

£500.00

Carpenter, who was knighted in 1951, 'For services as President, Manchester Chamber of Commerce', was a leading Manchester industrialist and banker. Among the numerous positions listed in his entry in Who Was Who, he was for 40 years the chairman and managing director of the Manchester cotton manufacturers Greg Brothers & Co., and for 21 years a director of Williams Deacon's Bank (serving as chairman for 12 years), a leading member of the Cotton and Rayon Merchants' Association, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, and the International Chamber of Commerce.

26 + [2] pp., 12mo. The title-page has at its head: 'The End of the Good Man – Peace.', and carries a quotation from Blair's 'Grave'. The sermon is preceded by a six-page preface by 'J. EVANS', dated from 'Islington, Feb. 11, 1812.', incorporating Smeaton's obituary from the Monthly Repository, December 1811. Following the eighteen pages of the sermon are two pages of advertisements for books by Evans and Kingsford. Stitched and unbound. In good condition, lightly aged, with slight spotting to title-leaf.

The two documents are printed forms, completed in manuscript. Both are tipped-in onto a leaf removed from an album. Both in fair condition, on aged and worn paper. ONE: 'C No 1429'. Dated 12 October 1798 and signed by 'J L Towers', 'Register.' Recording the birth of Sarah Cooper, daughter of Thomas Cooper and Jane Cooper (daughter of the Rev. Israel Lewis', born in Homerton, in the Parish of Saint John Hackney, on 17 June 1783. Witnessed by 'E. S. Cooper' and 'Sarah Mackaness'. TWO: 'E No 3478'. Dated 30 January 1816.

2pp., folio. On a bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper repaired with archival tape. The printer's slug is at the foot of both pages of text. At the head of the recto of the first leaf is Webster's printed letter, reading: 'Reverend Sir, | I am directed by the Committee of Deputies to send you the enclosed Notices.

On letterhead of the London Institution, Finsbury Circus, E.C. 18 August 1881.

£56.00

1p., 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Reads: 'Dear Sir, | I got your last no. all right. I meant one particular day to pay you, and at the end of the day forgot whether I had or had not written to do so - coming to the erroneous conclusion that I had.' Postscript: 'No. 4 received and paid for also'. From the Ramsay papers.

Sir Monier Monier- Williams (1819-1899), orientalist, Boden Professor of Sanskrit in the University of Oxford [ John William Donaldson (1811-1861), philologist ]

Publication details:

Cheltenham. 12 May [ 1860 ].

£180.00

The context is explained in Monier-Williams's entry in the Oxford DNB: 'After spending a few years at Cheltenham, where he held an appointment at the college, he was elected Boden professor of Sanskrit in the University of Oxford in December 1860. The election to the professorship was at this time still made by all MAs of the university, after a campaign by the contestants: Williams's rival, in a long and somewhat acrimonious struggle, was Professor F. Max Müller.' 2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with printed slip from catalogue laid down at head.

On letterhead of the Judge's Lodgings, Edgbaston, Birmingham. 5 August 1897.

£35.00

3pp., 8vo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He is forced to decline an invitation as he has 'a long list here' and has 'for a year past had to husband my strength': 'I know you would kindly wish me to do what I feel best for my well being': 'I hope you will not think me ungrateful I have such a pleasant recollection of your kindly feelings towards me and my brothers Arthur & Watty in days gone by that I should be very sorry if you thought I did not appreciate your kindness in asking me'. Both Vaughan Williams and Harington were educated at Christ Church College, Oxford.

3pp., 8vo. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper, creased and with a few closed tears. The letter is addressed to 'The Reverend Jonathan & John Williams, | Executors of the last Will & Testament of Henry Williams, Clerk.' A revealing personal communication, beginning: 'My Dear Brothers, | It hath pleased the Almighty to bless you with a competency of the good things of life to enable you to pass the remainder of your time with ease through this world. I dispose among you somewhat nearly to that my Father left me.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The letterhead, printed in red and black, features the illustration of a phoenix in fire which featured on the covers of some Penguin Books publications of works by D. H. Lawrence. He begins by stating that Malcolm Kelly has sent him Bailey's letter 'with its very flattering reference to me'. He explains that he has 'always regarded the book business as a whole & not as two camps as it were, book-sellers & publishers'.

Both items are printed with elegant restraint, and possibly designed by either Ruari McLean or Jan Tschichold. Both are in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. The service with a horizontal central fold and the ticket with a vertical fold. The funeral service is printed in black and red on deckled-edged wove paper. The second page gives details of 'The Music' and the third 'The Order of Service', which features Michael Morpurgo, Richard Hoggart, Robert Lusty and Harry Paroissien, with Rev. Austen Williams officiating. The last page gives details of the eight musicians.

Two from Highfield Lodge, Wise Lane, NW7 [ London ], and two from Broadstairs, Kent. Dated items from between 1946 and 1954.

£280.00

The collection of seventeen items in fair condition, with light signs of age and wear. Two of the letters are signed 'Frank Pettingell', the others signed 'Frank (P.)' and 'Frank'. Two of the letters are in their original envelopes. They total 5pp., 12mo. On 22 August 1947 he writes regarding his collection of playscripts, mostly acquired from the son of the comedian Arthur Williams, and now at the Templeman Library, University of Kent: 'We are on holiday here [in Broadstairs] since "Fifty-Fifty" finished [...] When I get back next month I would like to sort the old M.S.

Both items in fair condition, on lightly-aged and creased paper., the typed letter having a few autograph notes by Craig at end. ONE: ALS. 4pp., 8vo. He begins by telling Craig that he has been worrying about 'how to get your dope for you'. He is going to get in touch with 'Say & Drier', but does not know how the latter will react, 'being pro German you know - in the Guard Cuirasiers of the Prussian Guard in the last war'.

10pp., 8vo. Contemporary duplicated typescript, on ten leaves held together by one corner with a brass stud. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper with slight creasing at head. The present item is a paper presented to an unnamed committee. A version was published under the same title in 'Home Rule Problems', edited by Basil Williams, with an introduction by Viscount Haldane (London: P. S. King & Son, 1911). The opening paragraph reads: 'In writing this paper I wish to put in as strong a light as possible the objections to Home Rule, which one commonly hears from the Ulster Unionists.

Historian (1867-1950), who 'organised reception of Belgian Refugees at Folkestone for L.G.B., 1914 (Med. du Roi Albert)' (Who's who). One page, quarto. Good. Folded three times. Docketed and bearing the Society's stamp. Signed 'Basil Williams'. In answer to Wood's telegram Williams replies 'I am to say that I am afraid we cannot sent [sic] people from here to Aldeburgh.